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Halfway home, breaking down playoff possibilities

It seems like I say this every year about this time - and here I go again.

I can't believe how fast time is flying.

Last weekend (at halftime to be precise) marked the official halfway point of the high school football regular season.

Week 5 featured some extraordinary and unusual events for our area teams, including:

•Marmion was credited with a victory without ever taking the field as St. Francis de Sales was forced to forfeit the remainder of its games due to a lack of players.

•Previously unbeaten Aurora Christian and Aurora Central Catholic suffered tough-luck defeats. Aurora Christian dropped a 34-28 Chicago Catholic White decision to Bishop McNamara, while Aurora Central Catholic lost an equally difficult 30-23 decision to IC Catholic Prep in Metro Suburban West action.

•St. Charles East senior tailback Ramon Lopez carried the ball 49 times for 317 yards and 2 touchdowns during the Saints' 24-6 win over Streamwood.

•West Aurora earned its first-ever Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division victory, beating Bartlett 34-28.

•For the first time since 2007, Kaneland's losing streak was extended to 3 games following a wild 37-34 loss to DeKalb.

There was a sense of normalcy as well.

Three-time defending Upstate Eight Conference River Division champion Batavia fought off St. Charles North 21-7 to extend its conference win streak to 22.

Meanwhile in Geneva, the Vikings improved to 5-0 with a 56-6 triumph over Elgin.

With 4 weeks remaining before the postseason pairings are announced (Oct. 25), lets analyze the playoff chances for the 9 local teams.

Safe bets

Geneva (5-0, 3-0): Averaging nearly 40 points per game (39.2), Geneva likely has amassed enough playoff points to reach the postseason for the 10th time in the last 11 years.

One more win and the Vikings will punch their ticket to the playoffs.

Led by all-everything senior Pace Temple, NIU-bound quarterback Daniel Santacaterina and linebacker Wyatt Shodeen, the Vikings have another goal in mind heading into their final 4 regular-season contests - winning a conference championship.

The last time coach Rob Wicinski's squad captured a conference title was 2010 during its inaugural season in the UEC River. It also was the last time Geneva defeated archrival Batavia (40-21 at Bulldog Stadium).

The last 2 unbeaten UEC River teams will meet on Oct. 17 in Batavia.

Batavia (4-1, 3-0): Since allowing 40 points in a season-opening loss to Oswego, Batavia's defense has given up 32 points over its last 4 games.

Featuring senior Jake Hlava (9.5 sacks), Nick Bernabei (team-high 48 tackles) and junior defensive back Brett Bowman, who recorded 3 interceptions last week against St. Charles North, the Bulldogs also have plenty of offensive weapons - WR Canaan Coffey (7 TDs), RBs Zach Garrett (314 yards, 5.7-yard average) and Blake Crowder (217 yards, 7.0-yard average), and QBs Kyle Niemiec and Evan Acosta.

How consistent have the defending Class 6A state champion Bulldogs been?

Batavia has lost just 4 of 42 games since Dennis Piron took over as head coach in 2011.

Marmion (4-1, 1-0): Coinciding with its move to the new Chicago Catholic Conference Green Division, Marmion is tackling a beefed-up schedule that has already included games against Plainfield Central and state-ranked Providence.

Led by senior 2-way starters Luke Juriga and Lucas Warren, the Cadets likely need 1 more win to reach the playoffs for the fifth time in 6 years.

That won't necessarily be an easy task, as they finish the season against Fenwick (3-2), DeLaSalle (1-4), Aurora Christian (4-1) and Montini (3-2).

Aurora Central Catholic (4-1, 0-1): The new Metro Suburban Conference West Division that includes Aurora Central Catholic appears extremely balanced.

Five of the 6 teams own winning records, and the lone team that finds itself below the .500 mark - IC Catholic Prep (2-3) - knocked ACC from the unbeaten ranks last Friday night in Aurora.

Coach Brian Casey's Chargers, who have qualified for postseason play 2 consecutive years, may need to split their last 4 games to extend the playoff run.

Sparked by tailback/defensive back/return specialist Brandon Babler and quarterback Matt Rahn, the Chargers' final 4 foes - Fenton (4-1), Glenbard South (3-2), Riverside-Brookfield (3-2) and Wheaton Academy (4-1) - own a combined record of 14-5.

Aurora Christian (4-1, 1-1): Armed with one of the area's most prolific passers in QB Austin Bray, the Eagles are likely just 1 victory from reaching the playoffs for the 13th year in a row.

Their move to the new Chicago Catholic Conference White Division should benefit first-year head coach David Beebe come postseason time - not that the Eagles have needed it in past seasons (back-to-back 3A titles in 2011 and 2012, plus a semifinal berth in 2013).

In addition to last week's opponent, Kankakee McNamara, the Eagles' last 5 foes own a combined record of 17-8.

Looking good

St. Charles North (3-2, 1-2): One thing seems perfectly clear as St. Charles North aims for its first playoff berth since 2009.

Armed with just 15 playoff points, the North Stars will likely need to win 3 of their last 4 games to secure a postseason bid.

Led by defensive end Jordan Bergren and linebacker Carson Schmitt, the North Stars have relied on defense throughout the 2014 campaign. They held each of their first 3 opponents below 10 points and limited high-scoring Batavia to 14 points for more than 3 ½ quarters last weekend.

One of 10 teams that failed to reach the playoffs in 2013 despite a 5-4 mark, coach Rob Pomazak's North Stars have yet to field a healthy offensive lineup due to injuries to RBs Dom Sidari, Billy Duhownik and WR/DB Brendan Joyce.

With upcoming games against Larkin (0-5), Streamwood (1-4), St. Charles East (2-3) and Elgin (0-5), St. Charles North has an excellent chance of landing a playoff berth.

Alive and kicking

St. Charles East (2-3, 2-1): It won't be easy for the Saints to make the playoffs for the third straight year.

St. Charles East will need to win at least 3 of its last 4 games to have a shot at a postseason berth.

First-year head coach Bryce Farquhar's team has been as up-and-down as its record might indicate. Trailing South Elgin 21-14 in Week 1, the Storm outscored the Saints 28-0 in the fourth quarter during their 49-14 setback.

After blanking Elgin 40-0 in Week 3, St. Charles East challenged Batavia for a half (down 12-7) before losing a 40-7 Week 4 decision to the Bulldogs.

Junior Nick Candre, who has booted field goals of 43 and 42 yards, could be the conference's top place-kicker.

The Saints' playoff hopes may come down to the last 2 weeks of the regular season and road wins over St. Charles North and West Chicago.

Kaneland (2-3, 0-2): While the Knights have suffered 3 consecutive losses for the first time since 2007, now is not the time to panic.

History is on their side.

Kaneland, which has made 6 straight playoff appearances, needs to win 3 of its last 4 games to land a postseason bid for the 19th time in 20 seasons.

From 2010-2013, coach Tom Fedderly's Knights compiled an amazing record of 43-5. The last time Kaneland lost more than 2 games in a single season was in 2009.

Ironically, the Knights' hopes could come down to a Week 9 showdown against former conference rival Rochelle (Oct. 24).

Longshot

West Aurora (1-4, 1-2): Coach Nate Eimer's Blackhawks will need to win their last 4 games against Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley, East Aurora and Glenbard East to secure their first postseason spot since 1994.

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com

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